Official working Bee Sunday 21st January

As we prepare for the Heroic Garden festival our working bees are becoming more frequent and more satisfying as the Sanctuary Mahi Whenua gardens and food forest begins to look their best. The recent rainfall has helped considerably and the sunflowers, in particular, have shot away.

Our tasks for the day - note our next working bee on the 28th is either a morning or evening one - you can choose when you come. 

The evening is from 5.30 - 7.30 pm

Good to see so many bicycles as people choose to come by active transport.

Judy ran a composting workshop

 with both Sanctuary members and the public participating

Judy's workshops are always popular & informative. See the earlier blog post;
http://sanctuarygardendiary.blogspot.co.nz/2016/01/judys-compost-workshop-at-working-bee.html

Meanwhile, Louise and Caitlin helped with the weeding...

With Carla (Arthur in the far distance weed-eating) and

Benedicte

Ably supported by Timothe

Marita weeding too... so many weeds - so little time!

Keni working in the mara kumara garden...

that is looking spectacular!

As is the herb garden which is abundant and beautiful.

Thanks to Liz's tireless work.

Gabriel working hard on mulching the paths...

with Bev...

and Melissa.

Marita takes time to look at her own allotment

Diana working in her shared allotment with Deborah

The beautiful Sanctuary Mahi Whenua, a place of peace and tranquillity for all.

Arthur did a brilliant job of weed-eating the narrow paths and edges - a demanding job on such a hot day with all the necessary safety gear on. 

It looks great.

Arthur then helped Bev with the path mulching.

The newly mulched pathways ready for our Heroic Garden visitors.

The Sanctuary Mahi Whenua looking abundant and prolific - as it is.

The handsome rhubarb, with some to share after the working bee.

The Ying Yang beans are growing well.

Unfortunately, the glasshouse did not fare quite so well when a branch 

fell down on top of it during the recent wind storm.

Seedlings 'hardening off' outside in the shade area.

Rose and Sarah after the working bee - ready for lunch.

And John

Kathryn who came with her daughter Katya

There were 3 types of plums for sharing

The delicious Luisa's that the birds adore and readily eat

Plus 2 other varieties...

And the Rhubarb - delicious!

--//--

Even though we have been given a date, of May 1st, to vacate the Sanctuary Mahi Whenua and food forest, we are hopeful that this can be extended to accommodate our kumara harvest in June. 

But beyond this, we hope to stay on permanently as the gardens provide such a rich and diverse permaculture ecosystem that it would be a tragedy to bulldoze it away for intensified housing - particularly as the Sanctuary Mahi Whenua and food forest will be such a great asset to any new development and community. 

Please encourage your friends and family to sign our petition to retain the Sanctuary Mahi Whenua and food forest here;

https://www.change.org/p/unitec-institute-of-technology-keep-the-sanctuary-mahi-whenua-gardens-and-food-forest-where-it-is

Happy Gardening everyone and see you next Sunday for our working bees; 

morning anytime from 8am - 12 noon 

or evening 5.30 - 7.30 pm.